Saturday, March 13, 2010

Sunday concludes Long Beach Reads One Book, where all over Long Beach, people have been reading and discussing The Soloist by Steve Lopez. While this book is aimed at an adult audience, The Soloist has many themes that can be shared with children.

More Picture Books to Share:Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Ronald Himler.A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal and trying not to be noticed, is given hope when he sees a trapped bird find its freedom.

The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern; illustrated by Marni Backer.When Lizzie and Ben discover a homeless lady living in their neighborhood, they must reconcile their desire to help her with their mother's admonition not to talk to strangers.(Also available in Spanish:)La Señora de la Caja de Carton por Ann McGovern; illustraciones de Marni Backer; traduccion de Ana Peluffo

Mutt Dog!words and pictures by Stephen Michael King.A lonely dog finally finds a home after he makes friends with a woman who works at a homeless shelter.

Sometimes my Mommy Gets Angry by Bebe Moore Campbell; illustrated by E.B. Lewis.A little girl copes with her mother's mental illness, with the help of her grandmother and friends.

The Teddy Bearwritten and illustrated by David McPhail.A teddy bear, lost by the little boy who loves him, still feels loved after being rescued by a homeless man.

You and Me and home Sweet Home by George Ella Lyon & Stephanie Anderson.Third-grader Sharonda and her mother help volunteers from their church to build the house that will be their very own.

Books for Older Kids:Darnell Rock Reporting by Walter Dean Myers.Thirteen-year-old Darnell's twin sister and the other members of the Corner Crew have doubts about his work on the school newspaper, but the article he writes about a homeless man changes his attitude about school.

The Dream Bearer by Walter Dean Myers.During a summer in Harlem, David relies on his mother and a close friend and on an old man he meets in the park to help him come to terms with his father's outbursts and unstable behavior.

How to Steal a Dog: a novel by Barbara O'Connor.Living in the family car in their small North Carolina town after their father leaves them homeless and virtually penniless, a young girl persuades her younger brother to help her in an elaborate scheme to get money by stealing a dog and then claiming the reward that the owners are bound to offer.

Monkey Island by Paula Fox. A classic by Newbery author Paula Fox. Forced to live on the streets of New York after his mother disappears from their hotel room, eleven-year-old Clay is befriended by two people who help him survive.

The Song Shoots Out of my Mouthby Jaime Adoff; illustrated by Martin French. An illustrated collection of twenty-four poems that celebrates the power of music, and its integral role in the lives of teenagers

What a Song Can Do: 12 riffs on the power of music edited by Jennifer Armstrong.Twelve stories describe the power of music in young people's lives, from forming a community of individuals in a high school band to helping a young man connect to his Indian heritage through ancient songs.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

As we continue to celebrate Long Beach Reads One Book featuring The Soloist by Steve Lopez, try this musical craft idea at home. While The Soloist is a book for grownups, adults can share many of the book's themes with children, especially the importance of music.

Directions:Find an old shoe box, tissue box, or other cardboard box. Have an adult cut an oval-shaped hole in the top. Stretch a few rubber bands around the box and over the hole. Glue a popsicle stick or pencil under the rubber bands on one side of the box. Tape on a paper towel tube, add popsicle stick pegs, decorate and enjoy!

Want to make more crafts like this at home? Try searching the LBPL catalog for some book ideas!

Friday, March 5, 2010

March is National Nutrition Month! Celebrate with a special Bookworm Buddies program presented by the CSULB Dietetic Internship Program. Enjoy stories, games and crafts as we learn about healthy eating habits and the power of exercising.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Antonio Vivaldi was a famous composer and violinist. Vivaldi was born and raised in Venice, Italy. The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best known work, but he also composed over 500 instrumental concertos, choral works, and operas.

Fun Fact: Vivaldi is known as "The Red Priest" because he had flaming red hair and he also was a priest.

Want to learn more about musical instruments? Try searching the LBPL catalog for some book ideas!

Cut a straw in half and then cut twice partway up the straw to create four splits. Flatten those against the bottom of the pan and tape them down, these are your goalposts. Next, fill the pan almost full with water. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Remove from freezer and place on top of a table. Use small buttons for hockey pucks and a craft stick for a hockey stick.

Parents and Teachers: Participate in Long Beach Reads One Bookfrom March 3 - 14. The selection for 2010 is The Soloist: a lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music by Steve Lopez.

About the book:Steve Lopez, a columnist for the L.A. Times spots a homeless man performing beautiful music on a shabby violin. Over the next few days, Lopez discovers that the homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers, was once a promising student at Juilliard, but various pressures - including schizophrenia and being one of the few African-American students - caused him to drop out. Enlisting the help of doctors, mental health professionals and professional musicians, Lopez attempts to help Ayers move off Skid Row, regain his dignity, develop his musical talent and free himself of the demons induced by his schizophrenia. --Adapted from Publishers Weekly review

Monday, March 1, 2010

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' birthday and is also known as Read Across America Day, where children across the country celebrate by reading books by Dr. Seuss. Visit the Seussville website for some online Seuss fun or check out some books by Dr. Seuss from your local library.